Carrying the load

Nov. 20, 2013

Updated 4:19 p.m.

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Orange's senior running back Aaron Aguilar, right, had six 200-plus yard games this season. He set the program's single-season rushing record and scored 24 total touchdowns. JANINE SWIATKOWSKI, FOR THE REGISTER

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Orange's Aaron Aguilar sprints down the sideline as he tries to avoid the tackle form Segerstrom's Andy Beltran during Friday's game at Segerstrom High. FERMIN LEAL, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Orange's Aaron Aguilar sprints down the sideline on his way to a touchdown during Thursday's Golden West League game against Loara at El Modena High. Aguilar scored three TDs and ran for 243 yards in Orange's 34-25 victory. KYUSUNG GONG, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Orange's senior running back Aaron Aguilar, right, had six 200-plus yard games this season. He set the program's single-season rushing record and scored 24 total touchdowns.JANINE SWIATKOWSKI, FOR THE REGISTER

Aaron Aguilar this season was much more than Orange High’s record-breaking running back.

He was much more than its leading tackler, tackler for loss and fumble causer, too.

Aguilar, rather, was the heart and soul of this year’s Panthers team, the program’s most successful since 2006.

“What Aaron did for the team, you can’t measure in numbers,” Orange coach Randy Thompson said. “As a coach, to have somebody that makes other players want to play harder, gets them out there and stimulates them to work as hard as Aaron does, it’s invaluable.”

Aguilar’s outstanding prep football career ended on Friday, as Orange lost to Garden Grove, 42-10, in the first round of the CIF-SS Southern Division playoffs.

That this particular Panthers team was even in the postseason is a testament to Aguilar’s value.

“If you’ve watched our film, we’re 85percent run to 15percent pass,” Thompson said prior to Friday’s game. “That’s why every week, when we’re watching film, there are 10 men in the box.

“When you see 10 men in the box, you’re defending Aaron Aguilar.”

Aguilar finished the regular season second among Orange County ball carriers with 232 rushing attempts.

He finished third in rushing yards (2,023), and fourth in points scored (144) and yards per game (202).

The senior dynamo rushed for more than 200 yards in a single game six times this season.

“There’s no Aaron Aguilar, there’s no 2,000 yards without the rest of the guys on the team,” said Aguilar, who ended the year with 24 touchdowns. “I can’t do what I do without them.

“I’m very happy and proud of them, too, because they’ve worked just as hard as I have.”

Aguilar stands 5-foot-6 with the physique of a weightlifter.

He has a tendency to simplify things, which is to say that he doesn’t give much thought to what he does on the football field.

He just plays.

“I feel like I owe my teammates something,” Aguilar said. “They’re doing the same thing I’m doing, all through summer, all through practice. I owe them my best. I’m hoping to repay them for helping me out as much as they have and as much as they do every play.”

Aguilar, one of five siblings, began playing football while at Yorba Middle School.

He played freshman football at Orange and then lettered as a sophomore.

He rushed for more than 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns last year for a five-win Panthers team.

“Knowing you have a back as able to do the stuff Aaron does makes it easier on the offensive line,” senior lineman Jonathan Garrett said. “He brings a lot of energy to the line, and that makes you just want to do better, block even harder for him.”

Aguilar should be a shoo-in for an All-Orange County team at season’s end.

“I know that I can use the tools that football has given me – time management, discipline, respect, all that – in college,” Aguilar said. “I know I’m going to be able to use football later on. And in that way, I’ll always be able to remember my time here.”

As Aguilar maps out his future in the sport, Orange maps out its future without its star running back.

“What we’re going to miss is just having Aaron out there,” Thompson said. “Having a guy that makes every practice, that gets other people to be out there with him to work hard. This program is going to miss someone who just loves football.”

“I really hope that I set a good example by leading, leading by example. And I really hope I pushed the guys to better themselves.”

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